TopGear Filming

[KTF]

redlancer said:

KTF said:

Interesting, if long, day out. I wouldn't do it again in a hurry but glad that I did. Studio is a lot smaller than it looks on TV. The piece with the Mercedes looked and sounded amazing on the big screen and speakers turned up to 11.

The comedy guy was good and kept people's attention and I got 10/10 in the quiz so won a prize (DVD).

Harris and LeBlanc seemed to get on OK but, to me, Reid seemed like a spare part and didn't seem that chatty to the other hosts or the star during the down time. Still not sure what value he adds.

It's all scripted, even the stuff the guest says as you can see it on the autocue. They had to retake a few pieces so it keeps it all consistent. Harris describing the action as the car goes round the track with the stig or star at the wheel is 'live' as they see it on a big screen.

No freddo for the comedy guy again as they had another fainter (3rd week in a row)

I'd off gone for the sh**ty pens

As you found it really interesting and excellent but a long day. So glad we did it even with the 8 hour round trip. But wouldn't rush back, unless the format changes and I'd want to see that. Would off liked to off seen the Evans one just for the off camera stuff to compare.
Was good to see the stars lap even from a far whilst we waited.

tip - don't look at the autocue if you are directly behind as that means they have to re do the shot
they have autocue but guests was - nows chats about this.... so not really scripted.
and they didn't follow it to the letter, see above, don't read autocue whilst filming
1st look at a Tv show being made i'd say all have autocues. Even if its to remind them or for key points. Chris didn't look like he looked at them once.

Impressions
Chris, when not filming engaged with crowd, chatted to Matt and was how you expected him to be.
Matt, when watching the VT, esp the one he wasn't in was mouth open, laughing etc. Almost like that's the1st time he'd seen it. Came across proffesional and the one checking scripts and chatting with guests about them. What a main presenter should be. Made jokes off camera.
Both looked nervious at the start but soon relaxed.
Rory - if he wasn't there wouldn't off been missed and at times looked like he was there to kep the others to a time scedule by interupting when they went off on one.
Guest was a lot longer than i expected so imagine a lot will be cut. But it was all funny.
The films were excellent.
Took about 4 hours to film and wasn't a lot of re takes, including the one cause by me.
It looked a slicked operation to the untrained eye.

Misses loved it, and not someoen who knows Chris Harris, loves his stuff. Matt's car piece was again excellent.

For me its turned into a really good car show that shows fantastic desitnations in a different light and with a little bit of humour thrown in.

I was the last of the prize winners so had the option of the DVD or the plastic bag Had I been earlier up the chain I was thinking about going for the stty pens option in the hope that it was actually something good but it seems it actually was a stty pen. Had it been an Evans era DVD I would probably have gone for the plastic bag

True, the stuff the guest said was not line by line scripted but was more along the lines of 'anecdote about when they drove around London' or similar as more of a prompt plus they are not then put on the spot to think something up that changes each take.

The guest was pretty funny. I dont think all of it will make the final edit as the firing melons at fat kids and the comments about the woman with the claw like nails are probably not deemed very PC...

I was standing behind the sofas where the speakers were and in between takes their mic were still on so you could hear them chatting (well Matt and Chris anyway, Rory less so). Rory still looked like he didnt want to be there but maybe he will become more natural as it goes on. I would put money on him to be the first for the chop though.

Agree that it was a well oiled machine and the crew had clearly done this many times before and knew the drill. Time aside, thats why I wouldn't rush back to do it again as it would be the same thing only with different cars/videos to watch. Still worth doing if you get the opportunity.

[pozi]

I was also at Wednesdays filming (should have turned it into into a PH meet) and enjoyed the day even if it was a long time standing. They could probably do with more space in the break because by the time people had picked up a tea/coffee we were being asked to go back in and to leave drinks outside. It might stop the fainting so the compare bloke finally gets his chocolate bar.

I would agree that a lot of the guest chat will be cut, especially the tank firing melons to combat obesity in kids section, BBC are far to PC for that to get out.

I have no idea how you get to see Extra Gear, given the length of the day already I was not too bothered but it seemed the wristbands were all gone long before the masses were let out in the break, aside from the two extra they found after filming the main show.

Final point was how committed Matt looked to getting it right and working with the director, he may not be the best interviewer in the world but his years of work in TV land shows he knows what should be going on both in front and behind the camera.